Blessed New Year!

Melba Brehmer Funeral Sermon

Sermon for Melba Mabel Brehmer Funeral by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-

Hanson; based on Eccles 3:1-15; Philip 2:1-2, 4:4-7; Matthew 5:14-16,

Saamis Chapel, Medicine Hat, one o’clock, December 23, 2010.

One thing we cannot predict is the time of death. Death often comes at

an unexpected time. Who wants to deal with death during such a season

as this? After all, Christmas is supposed to be one of the most joyful

times of the year. For us Christians, Christmas is a time for rejoicing by

celebrating the birthday of Christ our Lord and Saviour. As members of

Melba’s family, you folks were likely expecting to celebrate Melba’s 87th

birthday today—instead, here you are, attending her funeral. Death

during this Christmas season can be the most unwelcome intruder of all.

We might ask: “Why now? Why did death have to come now and rob us

of Christmas joy?”

   The answer to such questions, in part, comes from the Bible. The

author of Ecclesiastes chapter three tells us that, for every occasion in

life, there is an appointed time. As you know, we all have appointments

in life. So, too, from the spiritual perspective, God has an appointment

for every thing in life. Each one of us has an appointment to be born. We

all have an appointed number of days and years in which to live in this

world. The author also tells us that we all have an appointment to die.

Melba’s appointment came earlier this week. If you’re like me, you may

not have expected it. On Sunday, the last day I saw Melba—the day

before her passing, she seemed to be her usual lively self. She attended

our Sunday afternoon worship service at The Good Samaritan Society’s

facility, South Ridge Village, and was in good spirits. My last words to

her on Sunday were: “We’ll see you Melba.” To which she replied: “Yes,

you will.” I know that you and I, if we have faith in Christ, will see her,

however, now it may be awhile—at the appointed time, when we will join

her and all of the other faithful members of God’s people in heaven.

   When I think of Melba, and the times that I was privileged to spend

with her as the chaplain at our facility; the passages of the Bible that

were read earlier come to mind.

   In the words of Ecclesiastes 3:12, speaking of our life in this world, the

writer says: “I know that there is nothing better for them than to be

happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live.”

   And the apostle Paul, who seems to have both given joy to and received

joy from the Christians at Philippi, writes them saying: “…make my joy

complete….Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”

   If you are an observant person, often you can tell who a person is by

looking at their face. I know, judging from the face of your beloved Melba,

that she radiated happiness and joy. I loved looking into Melba’s eyes;

they were so expressive and so joyful. Her smile, which always seemed to

be on her face, was so kind and loving. Melba had a wonderful sense of

humour; she knew that laughter was the best medicine; she knew what

it was to be happy and joyful, and enjoy life right up to the end. What a

gift and blessing that is!

   One of my fondest memories of Melba is when she was still living in

cottage C. I came over to the cottage and had a weekly worship service

with the residents there. Melba would always be ready and willing to

worship with much joy and enthusiasm. I have a box of percussion

instruments that I give to the residents while we worship. Melba just

loved to play a little drum. She drummed out those hymns that we

played with much vigour and delight. Her joy was contagious; it couldn’t

help but rub off on you. We certainly made: “a joyful noise to the LORD!”

(Ps 100:1) Speaking of those old familiar hymns that we played; Melba

also loved to sing them. She knew them all by heart, without even

following along in the book—having learned them in her youth, when she

sang in her church choir.

   Melba was a lively, vibrant person. In our passage from Matthew’s

Gospel, Jesus says a light or lamp that is lit is not meant to be hidden

under a container. No. Rather, Jesus tells us to: “let your light shine

before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to

your Father in heaven.” When someone is baptized into the Christian

faith, the baptismal service includes these very words from Matthew’s

Gospel as the baptismal candle is lit and passed on to the baptismal

party—reminding everyone that our calling as baptized Christians is to

be a light of God’s kindness and love to others.

   I know that Melba was such a light to many residents and staff at

South Ridge Village. Whenever I was up on the second floor of our home;

I would inevitably meet up with Melba navigating down the hallways in

her wheelchair. She ambled about quite merrily; bright-eyed, with her

face joyfully shining—being a bearer of light to all who walked by or

stopped to greet her and chat. Melba’s lit-up, smiling face, with eyes of

love and laughter meant so much to our residents and staff.

   As family members, I know that you too were inspired and loved by

Melba. She was so joyful when she could spend time with you. She was

always happy when she could entertain; she was a people person; being

a good neighbour to others by caring for them in time of great need; not

thinking ill of others; rather, offering them encouragement. Yes, Melba

lived a very full life, and I thank the LORD for the honour and privilege of

having known her—as I’m sure you do.

   My hope and prayer for each of you today is that, like Melba, you could

let your light shine; be as committed to your family as she was; be a good

neighbour to others; not think ill of others; and offer them

encouragement. Most of all, my hope and prayer for each of you is that

you would be inspired by the joy that was given to Melba from Christ and

that she shared with others; that you too would be gifted with joy to

celebrate the birthday of Christ this Christmas. Even though you will not

be celebrating Melba’s birthday today; may you find peace and comfort in

knowing that she is now celebrating with Christ in heaven. Amen.

Write for Rights on December 10th

Tomorrow, December 10, 2010 is Amnesty International's Write for Rights Day. This is one of their promotion videos. You can also visit their website here and consider signing up to participate tomorrow. I'm writing on behalf of a Mexican priest.  

Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending

This beautiful Adent hymn, composed by Charles Wesley, is sung here by the Lichfield Anglican Cathedral Choir. One thing the Anglicans do extremely well is preach the Gospel through song with their choirs.

Pondering Wisdom

Anthony de Mello was a modern Jesuit who died young back in 1987. He was the Director of the Sadhana Institute of Pastoral Counselling in Poona, India. A member of the Jesuit province of Bombay, he was widely known in English-and Spanish-speaking countries for his retreats, workshops and seminars on prayer, and spiritual therapy courses—work in which he was involved for over 18 years around the world. He left a rich legacy of spiritual teaching through his written and recorded words.

Recently, I reread one of his works, One Minute Wisdom, (New York: Image Books Doubleday, 1988), which is in the tradition of classical wisdom literature—both biblical and non-canonical—as well as similar to the parables of Jesus. If you haven’t read this volume yet, here are three examples to spark your curiosity.

I. The Master gave his teaching in parables and stories, which his disciples listened to with pleasure—and occasional frustration, for they longed for something deeper.

The Master was unmoved. To all their objections he would say, “You have yet to understand, my dears, that the shortest distance between a human being and Truth is a story.”

Another time he said, “Do not despise the story. A lost gold coin is found by means of a penny candle; the deepest truth is found by means of a simple story.” (p. 23)

II. It always pleased the Master to hear people recognize their ignorance.

“Wisdom tends to grow in proportion to one’s awareness of one’s ignorance,” he claimed.

When asked for an explanation, he said, “When you come to see you are not as wise today as you thought you were yesterday, you are wiser today.” (p. 97)

III. A woman in great distress over the death of her son came to the Master for comfort.

He listened to her patiently while she poured out her tale of woe.

Then he said softly, “I cannot wipe away your tears, my dear. I can only teach you how to make them holy.” (p.132)

Advocates for Persecuted Christians

In several New Testament passages, there are references to the persecution and imprisonment of Christians. Jesus, in his eschatological and apocalyptic discourses predicts it. Luke in the Book of Acts mentions it several times; the apostles Peter and Paul speak of it; the author of Hebrews (13:3) speaks of it; the author of Revelation also refers to it. Jesus himself would endure such sufferings and says that any follower of his should expect the same. Indeed, such persecution and imprisonment was also viewed by the ancient church as a clear sign of one’s faithfulness to Christ.

What a contrast this is to the present state of Christendom in the affluent West! Here the masses flock to churches that preach a gospel of health and wealth. Christians and congregations are far too self-preoccupied; spending time and energy on petty conflicts about the colour of the church carpet; whining about their pastor’s long sermons; and complaining about singing too many new hymns.

Meanwhile, according to reports by organizations—including Christian NGOs—who monitor the violation of religious freedom around the globe; it is estimated that anywhere from 100 million to 200 million Christians are persecuted because of their faith in Christ. Yet, in the so-called mainstream mass media very little of this is covered or highlighted—one wonders why? Could it be that with an increasing secularization of the mass media, there is now a preferred bias against Christianity?

As Jesus taught in Matthew 25:40: ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ The apostle Paul, who described the church as the body of Christ with many members, yet one body, said in 1 Cor 12:26: “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.” The 100 to 200 million Christians who are persecuted and imprisoned seek our support through our prayers and serving as advocates-ambassadors on their behalf to appeal to authorities for their safety, fair treatment, and release from prisoners.

In searching on Google, I discovered The International Day Of Prayer For The Persecuted Church website—the designated day was November 14 this year. On this website, there are 17 links to different Christian organizations who are involved in ministry to the persecuted Church. Many/most are evangelical, conservative or even fundamentalist theologically—one wonders why the more liberal and mainline denominations are not involved in this ministry—however, I do respect the work some of these organisations do. The Rev. Richard Wurmbrand’s (who spent 14 years in Communist Romanian prisons) organisation, The Voice of the Martyrs—there are also several links on the main website that take you to other national VOM websites, and PrisonerAlert.com, which assists readers in taking action—is one that provides practical information on how to be an advocate through letter writing directly to imprisoned Christians to encourage them as well as to government authorities.

I encourage readers to check out these websites, choose an organisation that you can support, and become involved by taking action through a ministry of prayer and advocacy letter writing. You may also wish to start a special group in your congregation or denomination. The possibilities are open. For as concentration camp survivor, Pastor Martin Niemoeller once said: “In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak.”

Aung San Suu Kyi

After spending seven and one-half years under house arrest in her native Burma [Myanmar], Nobel Peace laureate has been released. For how long this time, no one knows, and under how many conditions placed upon her by the military junta, again we cannot be certain. Suu Kyi is truly a courageous person, and ranks as a prophet as well as a leading political hero of her country—for she has remained totally committed to peace with justice and democracy in Burma. The injustice of the political situation in Burma has been, and continues to be, an almost insurmountable challenge for the citizens of that nation who work for a democratic society through peaceful, non-violent means. May world opinion and the providence of God bear enough pressure on the present leadership of Burma to orchestrate a peaceful transition from the military junta to a true, properly elected democratic government. God bless and long live Aung San Suu Kyi! You can read mother corps’ article on Suu Kyi’s release here.